Carton



Feb. 2, 1937.

B. B. sr-:BRENY CARTON Filed Sept. 25, 1936 Patented Feb. 2A, 1937 :UNITED STATES CARTON Bernhard B. Sebreny, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Chicago Carton Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application september- 25, 193s, serial N6 102,493'

Claims.

This invention relates to cartons and more especiallyto cartons which areintended for packaging of material in powder, granular, flake and other forms which may be poured from the carton 5 or container when opened.

The main objects of the invention are to provide an improved dispensing spout arrangement in a carton so as to facilitate the pouring of material from the carton, especially into small receptacles and in quantities to be measured. Other objects of the invention are to provide a dispensing spout arrangement in a carton, which may be formed in the carton without adding materially to the cost of producing the same carton without the spout arrangement; to provide a spout arrangement which may be easily and repeatedly opened and closed; to provide a construction wherein the initial setting up of the spout is facilitated; and to provide a spout arrangement in which the parts when once set up into spout form arey eiectively maintained in such form and in condition for instant use when desired. u

l In general it is the object of the invention to provide an improvement in cartons, especially in respect of a dispensing spout arrangement therefor.

Other-objects and advantages of the invention will' be understood by reference to the following specification A and the accompanying drawing wherein there is illustrated a carton having a dispensing spout embodying a selective form of the invention. In the drawing- Figure 1 is an illustration of a cardboard blank used for forming the carton;

tion of a carton showing the spout construction partially set up;

Figure 3 is a perspective similar to Figure 2,

but showing the spoutl set up in its operative position; and

Figure 4 is' a section on the plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Figure 3.

Referring now to the drawing, the carton or container may be formed from a suitable cardboard blank which is suitably creased or scored to divide the blank into a front wall portion 5, a back wall portion 6, and side walls 1 and 8 respectively. Thewalls- 5, 6, 1, and 8 are adapted to be folded relative to each other to form a rectangular container body, and a lip 9 is provided at one edge of the front wall 5 for adhesive attachment to the adjacent edge of the side wall 8 when folded to'said rectangular form. 56 End aps such as indicated at it are formed Figure 2 is a perspective of the upper end poron the bottomv ends of the walls 5, 6, 1, and 8 and are adapted to be folded inwardly into overlapping relation, as indicated in Fig. 4, to form a bottom closure.

Similar end closure forming aps are provided 5 on the upper ends of the walls 5, 6,1, and 8, such aps being respectively-designated II, I2, I3, and I4. As also indicated in Fig. 4, the aps II, I2, I3, and I 4 are adapted to be folded into mutual overlapping relation to close the upper end of the 1o 'ap portion II along the scored lines I5 and then bent upwardly along the creased lines I6. As indicated in Fig. 4, the ilap II constitutes an inner ilap.

'I'he flap I3, whichv constitutes an outer flap, is provided with scoring designated I8, with slits designated I9, and with creasing indicated at 20, joining the adjacent ends of the slits I9. As clearly shown, the slits I9 are so formed at their outer ends as to provide narrow end extensions designated 2 I the purpose of which will presently appear. ,Creased or fold lines designated 22-22 are also formed in the portion of the outer flap which is surrounded by the scored, slit and creased lines I8, I9, and 20, said folded lines 22-22 serving to divide the surrounded portion into an intermediate portion 23 and end portions 2I-24. For convenience said surounded ap area may. 40 hereinafterbe referred to as a lip portion.

In setting up the container from the blank prepared as above explained, adhesive material may be applied to all or a part of the outside surface of the ap Il or to the inside surface of the ap I3, but provision is made to avoid the application of any adhesive to the inside faces of the end portions designated 24-24 and the front x portion 25 of the intermediate portion 23. In Figure 1, the area in which adhesive -is applied 50 is indicated by the stippled shading. It will of course be understood by those skilled in the art that instead of applying adhesive to the limited area of the flap I3 as indicated in Fig. 1, the areas 24-24 and 25 may be treated with wax 55 that when the end portions 24-24 are bent to' or otherwise, and the outside surface of the ap II completely covered with adhesive. In such case adhesive would not adhere to the wax or otherwise treated areas 24-24 and 25 when the flaps are bent into contacting overlapping relation.

When the container is formed intothe rectangular shape indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 with the aps II, I2, I3, and I4 folded into overlapping relation, the upper end of the container is normally flat. When it is desired to set up the spout structure to permit pouring of the content from the container, the outer flap portions 23, 24-24, and 25 are first separated from the surrounding ilap portions along the scored lines I8-I8 and the slit lines I9-I9. This may be done conveniently by inserting the finger nail under the portion 25 intermediate the adjacent ends of the scored lines I8-I8 which, as indicated in Fig. 1, are preferably arranged to terminate in spaced relation in the front or free edge 26 of the flap I3. By the application of a slight lifting force on the lip portion 25, the lip may be torn along the scored lines I8-I8 from the surrounding flap portion until the lip is free to bend upwardly along the fold line 20. 'I'he position of the lip structure obtained by so separating it from the surrounding ilap portion is indicated in Fig. 2. When the lip is so raised-the underlying rectangular portion I1 of the inner flap is incidentally separated along the scored line I5 from the surrounding inner flap `portion and also caused to bend upwardly along the fold line I6.

It Will be apparent that in the structure thus far described, the adhesively united lip portion 23 and inner flap portion I1 remain hingedly connected to the respective flaps of which they are a part. To facilitate simultaneous bending of the two portions 23 and I'I the fold or creased lines I6 may be multiplied to provide the necessary softness to permit sufficient stretching of the material of the inner iiap in the hinge line to avoid the otherwise required relative movement between the portions 23 and I'I when simultaneously bent upwardly. Also if preferred, one of the parts, instead of being hingedly connected as at I6 or 20, may be completely slitted along said lines so as to provide freedom in the folding action of said parts. For practical purposes it is sufficient if either one of the folded flap parts remains hingedly connected to the iiap part in which it is formed. For the purpose of this application it is assumed that double creasing or preliminarily stretching the fold line I6 provides satisfactory foldability of the two united flap parts.

When the parts have been adjusted to the position indicatedin Fig. 2, the end portions 24-24 of the outer flap lip are folded forwardly towards each other until the extremities of their extensions 2I-2I meet approximately centrally of the opening I1 in the inner flap, which opening results from the removal of the portion I1.

The proportions of the flap part I'l and opening I1* are preferably so. designed that when the end portions 24-24 are folded to a substantially parallel forwardly extending relation as indicated in Fig. 3, the extensions ZIJ- 2| will extend beyond the normal front edge 2'I of the opening I1. A bulge or notch designated 28 is formed in the front edge 21 of the opening I'I'-, thenotch being spaced from the opposite sides 28-29 of the opening. The depth of the notch 28 is auch such position that their outer extremities contact, they will pass freely through the notch portion 28 to the interior of the container. Thereupon the portions 24-24 are permitted to expand or spring outwardly until they are stopped by engagement with the side edges 29-29 of the opening II. In this position the side portions 24-24 cooperate with the inner flap portion I'I and the portions 23 and 25 to form a spout or chute which facilitates pouring of the container content into a small mouthed receptacle, spoon or any other article. When it is desired to close the container, the spout structure is merely pressed inwardly until the lip portion 25 engages the inner ap portion adjacent the front edge.2'I of the opening I'I. Such engagement serves of course to limit the inward folding movement of the spout structure. Also re-opening is readily effected merely by again inserting the finger nail under the lip portion 25 and pulling upwardly. The end extensions 2I-2I then engage the inside of the upper end closure of the container as illustrated in Fig. 4 to thereby limit the opening movement to a desirable operative position. The width of the flap portion I'I corresponds, of course, to the width of the opening l'Ial so that the side edges of the flap portion I1 normally engage the inner faces of the spout sides 24-24. Hence the flap portion II has a material tendency to urge the spout sides to swing outwardly and thereby eifects substantial frictional contact between the outer faces of the spout sides and the respectively adjacent edges 29-29 of the opening IIB. Such -frictional contact, in addition to the inherent tendency of the spout sides 24-24 to spring back to normal or initial co-planar relation to the spout portions 23-25, assists in maintaining the spout in desired opened or closed position.

It will be notedthat by reason of the application of wax or other material to prevent adhesion between the lip portions 24-24 and 25 of the portions of the flap II, the said portions 24-24 and 25 will freely separate from the said underlying portions when the spout structure is being set up as above explained. The accessibility of the front edge lip portion 25 constitutes an important feature in that it facilitates setting up and opening of the spout without the employment of a sharp edged knife or other instrument, the use of Which,for the purpose of opening a container spout, is attended with some danger of accidentally cutting and destroying the container spout structure and also the person. By facilitating opening of the spout without requiring the use of a knife or the like, such attendant danger is eliminated and operability of the spout structure is substantially assured.

Changes in the described construction may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, the scope of which should be determined by reference to the following claims, the same being construed as broadly as possible consistent with the state of the art.

I claim the following as my invention:

, 1. A container having an inner ap and an outer ap overlapping said inner flap and forming therewith a wall of the container. the outer ap being provided with a lip portion adapted to be separated from the flap along predetermined lines and bent to angular position relative to the flap along a predetermined line, end portions of said lip being foldable towards each other to form sides cooperating with an intermediate portion of the lip to form a spout, the inner flap being provided with a portion secured to said ying therewith a wall oi' the container, the outer flap being provided with a lip portion adapted to be separated from the ilap along predetermined lines and bent to angular position relative to the iiap along a predetermined line, end portions of said lip being foldable towards each other to form sides cooperating with an intermediate portion of thelip to form a spout, the inner flap being provided with a portion secured to said intermediate'lip portion and separable from/the inner Aflap as .an incident to bending of said'I lip to angular position, thereby to form an opening in said inner flap through which said folded lip end portions are adapted to be projected into the container, -whereby said spout is adapted to be repeatedlyopened to form a dispensing spout and closed to close the container, said spout sides being provided with end extensions adap'ted to engage the inside of said inner ap to limit the extent to which the spout may be opened. g

3. A container having an inner flap and an outer flap overlapping said inner flap and forming therewith a Wall of the container, the outer iiap being provided with a lip portion adapted to be separated from the iiap along predetermined lines and bent to angular position relative to the ap along a predetermined line, end portions of said lip being foldable towards each other to form sides cooperating with an intermediate portion of the lip to form a spout, the

inner flap being provided witha poijzion secured to'said intermediate liplportion and separable from the inner iiap as an incident to bending of said lip to angular position, thereby to form an opening in said inner ilap through which said folded lip end portions are adapted to `be projected into the container, wherebysaid spout is adapted to be repeatedly opened to form a dispensing spout and closed to close the container, said spout sides being provided with end extensions adapted to engage the inside ot said inner ap to limit the extent to which the spout may be opened, `and saidl inner iiap portion being so shaped as to provide a notch in one edge oi' the opening in said inner ap to facilitate initial insertion oi said spout sides substantially as described.

4.'A container having an inner flap and an outer ilap overlapping said inner :tlap and forming therewith a wall of the container, the outer ilap being provided with a lip portion adapted to be separated from the flap along predetermined lines and bent to angular position relative to the ap along a predetermined line, end portions of said lip being foldable towards each other to form sides cooperating with an intermediate portion of the lip to form a spout, the inner iiap being provided with a portion secured to said intermediate lip portion and separable from the inner ap as an incident to bending of said lip to angular position, thereby to form an opening in said inner flap through which said folded lip end portions are adapted to be projected into the container, whereby said spout-'is adapted to be repeatedly opened to form a dispensing spout and closed to close the container, said lip portion extending to a free edge of said outer flap to provide an accessible edge portion facilitating the initial separation andlbending of the lip to form saidv spout.

5. A container having an inner flap and an outer flap overlapping said inner flap and form- 'ing therewith a wall of the container, the outer flap being provided with a lip portion adapted to be separated from the flap along predetermined lines and bent to angular position relative to the iiap along a predetermined '1ine, end portions of said lip vbeing foldable towards each other to form sides cooperating with an intermediate portion of the lip to form a spout,the

inner ilap being provided with a portion secured to said intermediate lip portion and sep,- arable from the inner flap as an incident to bending of said lip to angular position, thereby to form an opening in said inner flap through which .said folded lip end portions are adapted to be projected into the container, whereby said spout is adapted to be repeatedly opened to form a dispensing spout and closed to close the container,

4said inner nap portion being of such width as .to normally engage said spout sides to urge the same to swing outwardly, thereby to maintain frictional contact between the outer faces o! said Lspout sides and the adjacent side edges of said opening. l BERNHARD B. SEBRENY. 

